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Door still ajar for potential England midfielders says Eriksson
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-01-02 11:49
LONDON (AFP) - England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson gave hope to several
candidates for a midfield post in the World Cup squad by saying that there was
still time for one to break into the team.
Eriksson also said that it
was time to halt the side's jinx against his native Sweden - who they face in
the group stage of the World Cup finals in June - after a 37 year hiatus since
they last beat them.
However it was more who would play alongside Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard
that was taxing Eriksson's mind.
Eriksson - who took England to the quarter-finals in the 2002 World Cup
finals - has tried Ledley King in the holding role but while the Spurs star
impressed against Argentina he is considered more of a defender.
Names such as the stylish Scott Parker - who has been playing well for
Newcastle despite their poor season - Manchester United's Alan Smith and
Manchester City's Joey Barton have been mentioned as possibilities.
Eriksson is adamant that he can play Lampard and Gerrard together provided he
finds a holding midfielder.
"They can do it - of course they can do it," Eriksson told Sky Sports News.
"But if we want to have one sitting midfielder then we have to find one. It's
one area which we are going to look at, that's for sure, because maybe you need
it at some stage in the World Cup."
Eriksson said he was not averse to calling up a new face if they had
impressive second halves of the season.
"There's time for other players to knock on the door. I will open it maybe."
Eriksson said that the two friendlies in May would be pivotal as to who
starts in their World Cup opener against Paraguay - whom they beat on their way
to the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals - on June 10.
"The first in March is important, but even more important are the two games
in May, because then the Premier League season is over and it's only national
teams.
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